Apparatus for sizing and shaping hats and the like



A. SLOCUM.

APPARATUS FOR SiZlNG AND SHAPING HATS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, I916.

-1,Z'34.3,887. Patented un 15,1920

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

fliwmwa A" SLOCU M APPARATUS FOR SIZING AND SHAPING HATS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5, 1916.

Patented June 15, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. SLOCUM.

APPARATUS FOR SIZING AND SHAPING HATS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, I916.

1,343,887, Patented. J 11116 15 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I V 1 mzflax fiilff R B MW attor ey UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SLOCUM, OFMIIAWAUKEE, W ISCONSIN.

APPARATUS FOR srzmo AND SHAPING HATS AND HE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 15, 1921),

. l Application filed July 15, 1916. Serial No. 109,41 2.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, ALBERT SLoo M, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Sizing and Shaping Hats andthe like, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad "to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

The main objects ofthis invention are to facilitate sizing fabrics and particularly woven, braided or. textile fabrics and articles made therefrom, such as hats to eliminate certain operations and to save time, labor and expense in theproduction of sized articles. such as hats; to obtain a more even and uniform distribution of size and hence a more uniform and better product. 7

The invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts of the apparatus, as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawin illustrating an embodiment of the invent on, Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line 11, Figs. 2 and 5, of a machine or apparatus especially designed for sizing hats and the like, made of sewed braid such as straw and various kinds of fiber, used in the manufacture of hats; Fig. 2isa plan view of the machine, the hood or cover being omitted and a part of the rotary table or support being broken away; Fi 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33, .ig. 1; 1 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 2, showing a detail of the machine; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55, Fig. 1;Fig. 6 isan enlarged detail view in side elevation of a part of the automatic timing and stopping device with which the machineis provided; Fig. 7 is'a section on the'line 7-7, Fig. 6;.and Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the partsin different positions.

The machine comprises'a hollow standard preferably made as shown in Figs. 1 and 5,

upper end of a vertical shaftb, which has.

in two sections, a base section 1, and a cylindrical top section 2.

A circular table or rotary work support 3, is mounted on the top of the .standard,.with its margin projecting over and beyond the upper edge of the standard. Ball bearings 1, are preferably provided between the table to partially support and keep and standard, the table true. he table is fastened to the brackets 19, attached to the base 1.

bearings 6 and 7, in the standard, and is provided at its lower end with a bevel gear or pinion 8. The pinion 8 meshes with a bevel gear 9, which is fixed onasleeve 10,

having a bearing 11 in the base .of the pedestal, and provided at its outer end with a friction clutch member and brake wheel 12. i

A horizontal driving [shaft 13, passing loosely through the sleeve 10, which affords a bearing therefor, and having another bearing 14, in the opposite side of the base 1, is connected in any suitable manner, as by a belt pulley (not shown with a motor or source of power. 7 A. conical friction clutch member. 15, fitting into the member 12, .is splined on the shaft 13 and formed with a grooved hub, which is provided with a fork collar 16.' The; collar 16fis pivotally connected with the upper end of a forked arm 17, loosely mountedon a horizontal shaft 18, which is supported below and transversely to the shaft. 13 by bearings in A forked arm 20, loosely mounted. on the shaft 18 next to the bracket bearings 19, is

provided with a brake shoe 21, whichis adapted to cooperate with the lower side of member 12 of the clutch. A U- bolt 24:, ad-.

justably connects the arm 17 with the lever 22, and serves to shift the clutch member 15 i out of engagement with the clutch member 12. The lever 22 is provided at its opposite end with an adjustable bolt 25, adapted by. engagement with, the brake arm 20 to raise the brake shoe 21 into engagement with the driven clutch member and brake wheel 12 when the driving clutch member 15 is shifted out of engagement'therewith. I A treadleor foot lever 26, is fastened to one end of the shaft 18. A spring 27 shown in Fig. 5, connecting the .lever 26 with the base or standard. tends to shift the driving member 15 out of engagement with the driven member 12 of theclutch and to lift and hold the brake shoe 21 against the driven clutch member and brake wheel 12' Tosecure the best results and uniformity the clutch members 12 and 15 in engage ment with each other. A spring29, inter posed between a collar 30 on the bar and its rear bearing, tends to thrust the bar forward andhold it in engagement with the lever 26, its forward movement being limited by a collar 31. The front or latch end of the bar is beveled to permit the l ver 26 to pass below it. A. vertically disposed lever 32, fulcrumed in the base 1, is forked at its lower end, which straddles the latch bar 28 between its front end and. the collar 80, and is connected with the base by a tracting spring 32'.

A box or nut holder 33, is pivotally mounted in the upper forked end of the lever 32,- as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and S, the box being formed or provided on opposite sides thereof with pivot pins 34L, engaging notches or slots in the fork of ,tl1e lever. In the be or holder :33, a split nut composed of sections 35, is fitted. The nut sections 35 are provided on opposite sides with pins 36. guided in slots'ST; formed in the sides of the be): or holder transversely to the axisof the nut, which is fitted to work with a hori-.

zontal screw 38, journaled at its ends in bearings 39 and it) inside of the base section 1 of the standard. The screw 38'is provided adjacent to one end with a worm gear ii, meshing with a worm 42 on the shaft 5'. The split nut is opened and closed bya forked lever 411R, fulcrumed on. the pins 3-i between the upper fork arms of the lever 32 and the box or holder of the lever 43 are formed with cam slots 44, which engage with the pins 36 on opposite sides of the nut sections, and are adapted to shift them toward each other, closing the nut on the screw 38 when the lever is turned to the right on the pins 34- into the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and to separate them, opening'the nut to clear the screw when said lever is turned to the left into the position indicated by dotted lines. The lever is connected ith the lever 32 by springs 45, and is provided with weights to, which tend to hold it in either of its extreme positions and the split nut closed or opened. In the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, for opening the nut, the springs l5 pass but slightly to the left of the pins 35!, so that a little movement of the lever toward the right is suliicient to enable The fork arms the springs to complete their movement in that direction for closing the nut on the screw 38.

A fixed trip stop 4:7,is attached to the front screwbearing 40, in the path of the lever 43, and an adjustable trip stop 48, is mounted in the path of said lever on a sliding rod 49, parallel with the screw 38. The rod 49 projects through the front wall of the base l, inwhich it is guided, and is formed with an offset eye or collar in which an adjustingscrew 50 is swiveled, the screw being threaded parallel with the rod in the base. and provided with a knurled head for adjusting the stop 48 backward or forward, to vary the duration of rotation. of the table 3.

'Asize receptacle 51, which may be made of sheet metal, surrounds the upper portion of the standard, resting on an outwardly projecting flange 51, formed on the base section and extends at the top to about or a little above the level of the rotary table 3. At one side of the machine the size receptacle is extended as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and formed with a sump or well 52, to facilitate dipping up the size with a ladle or dipper and pouring it upon a hat or other article placed on the table 3.

- The receptacle 51, including the sump or well 52,'is formed with a water or heating jacket 53, which is provided with a steam or heating coil or pipe 54.

Water and steam for preparing size in the receptacle 51 are supplied through pipes and 56,,connected withthe well and provided with valves 57 and {8. A drain pipe 59 provided with av valve, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is connected with the bottom oftho sump or well 52, for drawing off the size and emptying the receptacle 51 and the sump or well whenever it is necessary or desirable to do so. 7

For sizing hats or the like, the machine is provided with blocks or forms 60 of the de: sired shape or shapes, which are removably fitted to the table 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. These blocks or forms, which are preferably made of metal, such as aluminium, are provided on the under side with tongues or lugs 61 and 62, which are fitted in a groove or channel 63, extendingdiametrically across the table 3, between two parallel ribs, as shown in Figs. 2 and The groove or channel 63 is bridged adjacent to one end thereof. by a cross piece 64, and the tongue or lug 61 of each block or form 60 is hooked or extended to pass underneath and engage with this cross piece, which also serves'as a stop to facilitate placing the blocks or forms in proper position on the table. The tongue or lug $2011 each block or formhas a hole which registers with corresponding holes in the ribs on opposite sides of the groove or channel63, to receive a locking pin 65 pivotally connected with a bar 66, which is pivoted to the table 3 and is provided with a latch-67 for holding it-in locking position against and parallelwith oneottheribs on the table,- as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. I To catch he size thrown by centrifugal force from the table 3 and the hat or other article thereon, the size receptacle is provided with a hood orcover 68, hin ed thereto on the back side, as shown in 1* ig. 5, and fitting into the top of said receptacle over and aroundthetable 3. 'On the front side thehood or cover is provided with a handle 69 and a stop for supportingit in its closed position. I 1

. To facilitate lifting and opening the hood I or cover, a counterweight ,(not shown) may be connected therewith by a cord 70, as shown in Fig. 5. I c i To catch and prevent size thrown against the inside of the hood oricover from dripping upon a sized hat or other 'article upon the table 3 when the hood or cover isi opened, an inwardly projecting gutter '71, is formed around theloweredge .ot'the hood or cover, I

and terminates or is formedwith an opening. on the back side adjacent to the hinge for the size .todrain back into the recep taole 51 r p I Y The heating coil .54 is, provided with valves 7 2 .for'regulating and controlling the supplyof steam to the jacket 53 of the size receptacle 51 and well 52. c

In the operation otthe machine, for sizing hats, the hats, 73 are placed on" and shaped toblocks 60, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5., and the blocks'arethen fastened in place one at'a time on-the rotary ,table or support 3,.the hood or, cover 68 being thrown back or removed for this purpose. The operator, while thetable or support 3 is at rest, dips size from theside extension of the receptacle 51 or from the well 52 when the supply runs low, and pours it ove'r the hat on the block. The hood or cover 68 is then closed and the'machine is started by depressing the foot lever 26, which is automatically lockedlby the latch28 in the posi-, tion to hold the driving member 15 en gagement with the driven member 120i the clutch and to hold the brake shoe 21 out of engagement with the driven clutch mem her and brake wheel 12. The block 60, with the hat? 3 thereon,' being rapidly rotated with the table or support '3, surplus sizeis thrown by centrifugal force from the hat against the surrounding hood or cover 68, within which it flows down into the gutter 71, draining back therefrom through the opening in the rear'side of the gutter into the annular part of thesize receptacle 51 surrounding the standard below the table, T he remaining size with which the hat is saturated or completely coated, isevenly distributed.

hen the rims of the hats are to be made stiffer than the -crowns,"requiring size of greater consisteney,-. the crowns and rims are sized by separate operations-as in hand sizing, the crowns being covered .andJprO tected by a shieldof rubber or. the like, when the heavier size or size of greater consistency, is applied thereto.

. When themachine is started,'the split ,nut

being-closed on the screw 38 next tothe adjustable trip stop 48 is gradually shifted to the right, asseen in Fig. 5, until the trip lever 43 engages the -fronttrip stop 47 and a is turnedbackward farenough to disenfrom engagement with thelever 26, thereby releasing the same and permitting the spring 27 to shift the driving clutch memher 15 out of engagement with the driven member 1.2 and to apply the brake shoe 21 to said driven member, which promptly stops the machine. When the lever 32 is turned back to'its initial position by the retracting spring 32, the trip lever 43, by engagement with the backstop 48, is thrown forward, and the springs 45, cooperating withthe weights 46, close thesplit nut on the screw 38, ready for operation on another hat. With the retractionof the lever 32 by the spring 32', the lower end of the lever'is shiftedout of engagement with the collar 30' andthe latch 28 "being thus released, is returned by the spring 29 toits normal position in the path of'the foot lever 26.

i The duration of rotation of the table ;3 a

after it iskstartod is thusfdetermined by the time required for the split nut-with the trip lever =13 to traverse the screw 38 from the stop 48 to the stop -47; and with any given adjustment of the back stop &8, every hat sized on the machine will be subjected to "centrifugal action for exactly the same length of time. -Each hat can thus be evenly and properly sized, and any number of hats sized uniformly or'alike by an unskilled operator, in an expeditiousmanner without special care or attention except to saturate or completely and copiously coat them with o the proper size takenffrom the receptacle 51, 'infwhich it is kept at the required temperature by the heating coil or pipe 5 1: in the jacket 5 3. 1 Hats or parts of hats of different sizes, shapes and materials, requiring different kinds of size or size of'difi'erent consistencies, may be subjected to the centrifugal action of the machine for longer or shorter periods by adjusting the back stop 4:8 to- .ward or from the front stop 47.

With this machine and by the process herein described, sewed braid hats of the various materials of which such hats are made, are sized on the same blocks on which they are shaped or formed, and after being dried are ready for steaming or 'moistening and pressing, so that within a day or two at most, from the time they are sewed, they may be properly finished, whereas by the methods heretofore employed in the production of such hats, from five to seven days were required to obtain like results. The slow and tedious operations, as heretofore practised, of sizing by hand preliminary to blocking, andof blocking requiring skill and experience, are eliminated, and auniform and much better product 'is obtained with the machine and by the process herein described.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of the machine andvariations in the process may be made with out departure from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In sizing apparatus the combination of a rotary support, means for rotating said support, a form on which the article to be sized is shaped and held mounted on said support, a size receptacle adjacent said support, a hood adapted to catch size thrown by centrifugal force from an article on said form and to. return the same into said receptacle, and means for heating and maintaining at the required temperature size contained in said receptacle.

2. Insizing apparatus the combination of a rotary support, means for rotating said support, a form on which the article to be sized is shaped and held mounted on said support,a size receptacle adjacent said support, a removable hood adapted to catch size thrown by centrifugal force from an an ticle on said form and to return the same into said receptacle, and means for heating and maintaining at the required tempera ture size contained in said receptacle.

8. In sizing apparatus the combination of a rotary support, means for rapidly rotating the support, a form on which the article to be sized is fitted and held in shape, means for detachablyfastening and holding the form in a definite position on the support, a receptacle adapted to catch size thrown by centrifugal force from the article spun with the form on said support, and means for automatically stopping and timing the rotation of the support.

In sizing apparatus the combination of a rotary table having a vertical axis, means for rapidly rotating the table, a form removably fastened to said table and adapted to retain articles to be' sized thereon in shape, a size receptacle surrounding said table, and a hood hinged to said receptacle and provided around'its lower edge which closes into the top of the receptacle, with an inwardly projecting gutter having an opening into the receptacle adjacent to the hinge.

5. In sizing apparatus the combination of a rotary table having a vertical axis, means for rapidly rotating said table, means for securing articles to be sized on the table and retaining them in their final shape, a jacketed size receptacle surrounding the table and extended on one side thereof and provided on the extended side with a sump or well, means for supplying the jacket of the size receptacle with heat, and a removable hood fitting into the top ofthe'size receptacle around the table.

6. In sizing apparatus the combination of a hollow standard, a rotary table mounted on said standard and provided with a depending shaft having bearings in the standard, a form removably mounted on the table, means for rapidly rotating the table, a size receptacle surrounding the table, and a re movable hood-like cover fitting over said receptacle around said table and form.

7. In sizing apparatus the combination of a' standard, a rotary table mounted thereon and having a vertical axis, means for rapidly rotating the table, a removable form for holding articles .to be sized on the table, a size receptaclesurrounding said table and adapted to catch size thrown therefrom by centrifugal force, and means for determining the duration of rotation of the table.

8, In sizing apparatus the combination of a standard, a rotary table mounted thereon and provided with avertical shaft having hearings in the standard, a removable form for .detachably securing articles to be sized on the table,- arsize receptacle surrounding said table and having a removable cover for catching size thrown from the table by centrifugal force, a driving-shaft having a gear and clutch connection with the table shaft, a brake for stopping the table, and a lever for disengaging the clutch and applying the brake, and vice versa.

9. In sizing apparatus the combination of a standard, a rotary table mounted on said standard and provided with means for securing articles to be sized in place on the table, a size receptacle provided with a removable closure surrounding the table and adapted to catch size thrown therefrom, a driving shaft having a gear and clutch connection with the table, a lever for operating the clutch, a spring connected with the lever and tending to throw the clutch out of engagement, a latch working with said lever to hold the clutch in engagement, and an automatic timing device adapted to disengage the latch and release said lever when the table has run a certain length of time.

10. In sizing apparatus the combination of a standard, a table rotatably mounted thereon and having a vertical axis, a size receptacle surrounding the table and having a removable cover adapted to catch size thrown from the table, a removable form for securing articles to be sized on the table, a driving member, means for connecting and disconnecting the driving member and table, and an automatic timing device arranged to stop the table after it has run a certain length of time.

11. The combination of a standard, a table rotatably mounted thereon, a removable form for holding articles to be sized in place on the table, a size receptacle surrounding thetable and adapted to catch size thrown therefrom, a driving member, means for connecting and disconnecting the table and driving member, and an adjustable timing device for stopping the machine after, it has run a certain length of time and for varying the duration of its operation.

12. In sizing apparatus the combination of a standard, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rapidly rotating the table, a removable form for holding articles to be sized in place 011 the table, a size receptacle surrounding the table and upper part of the standard and extended at one side thereof and provided With a well and 1 with a heating jacket, and a removable hood fitting into the upper part of said receptacle around and over the table.

13. In sizing apparatusthe combination I of a standard, a table rotatably mounted thereon, means for rapidly rotating the table, a removable form-for holding articles to be sized in place on the table, a size receptacle provided with a Water jacket containing a heating coil and with a sump or Well at one side having valve controlled water and steam supply connections, and a removable closure surrounding the table and adapted to catch size thrown therefrom.

14. In sizing apparatus the combination of a hollow standard, a rotary table mounted on and projecting beyond the upper end of said standard and provided on its up-' 'CHAs. L. Goss, ALIoE E. Goss. 

